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Preparation H
When it was originally introduced in 1926 by the company called American Home Products (now known as Wyeth), Preparation H. was marketed as a sunburn cream. Its potential as a relief for hemorrhoids was soon recognized, and the product was re-marketed as Preparation H – a treatment for hemorrhoids.
This review aims to inform you about the product, what it contains and whether it is effective or not.
Before we start though, I’d like to be honest and tell you that I receive review copies of the products I review on this website and will be compensated for any sales made through my recommendation. However, that doesn’t mean I won’t tell you about some of the problems and negative aspects of each product.
What does the product contain? Depending on where you live in the world, the formulation of the product called Preparation H will be slightly different.
Different Formulations
Depending on your country, the Preparation H may be petroleum based, or it may be made of purified water. It could be little more than a moisturizer with witch hazel as its main ingredient, or a complex formulation containing phenylephrine, pramoxine and hydro-cortisone.
The Ingredients Explained
Where included in your version of Preparation H:
Phenylephrine: This drug constricts the blood vessels, useful in reducing the swelling in hemorrhoids.
Hydrocortisone: This is a steroid hormone, normally produced by the adrenal gland. The use of hydrocortisone in medicines is very common, as one of its effects is to reduce inflammation and thus the skin’s immune response.
Pramoxine: This is a topical anesthetic. Otherwise known as pramocaine, pramoxine is used to numb the skin and relieve pain and itching related to hemorrhoids.
Aloe Vera: Also known as Medicinal Aloe, Aloe Vera has been traditionally used for centuries as a medicine in the countries where it naturally grows. Aloe Vera is one of the most popular constituents in natural remedies from digestive problems to acne. In traditional medicines, the sap is applied to wounds to protect them from infection and promote healing.
Shark Liver Oil: Cited as being ‘useful for healing wounds, sores, irritations of the respiratory tract and for lymph node swelling.’
Yeast Extract: Yeast extract is usually used as a microbiological media ingredient – a carrying agent for very small amounts of biological ingredients used in remedies/potions/medicines.
Witch Hazel: A strong anti-oxidant and astringent produced from the leaves and the bark of the North American Witch Hazel shrub. Widely used by the American Indians for medicinal purposes: useful in fighting acne, as a natural remedy for psoriasis, soothes sunburn, and provides relief for bruised, swollen tissues.
The Negatives Aspects Of Preparation H
Certain ingredients (where used) can have undesired side effects.
Overuse of hydrocortisone causes thinning of the skin, which can lead to severe infection and ulceration. Thinned skin does not heal quickly or easily, and caution is advised when using cortisone in applied ointments and lotions.
Due to the marked decline in their numbers and their recognized importance in the eco-system, the use of sharks for food and medicinal use is becoming more frowned upon.
Positives of Preperation H
Depending on its constituents, Preparation H does use ingredients with a history of success in the treatment of soft tissue injury, for example hemorrhoids.